Windsor Fire is investigating a fire that claimed the lives of several pets and caused $90,000 in damage.

Firefighters were called this morning to a house in the 3400 block of Longfellow in South Windsor after the homeowners came home and found severe fire damage to their house.

Chief Fire Prevention Officer Lee Tome says it appears that the fire started in the house’s kitchen near the stove but the exact cause could not be determined. The fire apparently self-extinguished itself, but not before claiming the lives of a cat, four kittens, a bird and three pet rats.

The fire department says the homeowners were issued a ticket for $235 for not having working smoke alarms on all levels of their home.